Karapatan

Karapatan expressed support
for the confirmation of the appointment of Cabinet secretaries Judy Taguiwalo, Rafael
Mariano and Gina Lopez.

"The three have shown
exemplary public service by promoting and taking progressive stance regarding
people’s rights. Their dedication and hard work proved that they have the
capacity, experience and expertise to continue their incumbency in their
respective offices,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.

“Extrajudicial killings,
whether done in the name of the war
against so-called enemies of the State or of the war on drugs, should stop. We
reiterate our call to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to truly undertake long-term and
comprehensive socio-economic and political reforms that address the roots of
social unrest, as well as the prevalence of the illegal drug trade, instead of
employing militarist solutions," said Jigs Clamor, Karapatan deputy
secretary general in an event held at the Vargas Museum, UP Diliman, on April
29, 2017.

“It has been ten (10) years and Jonas Burgos is still missing.
Though cases have been filed, perpetrators have remained unpunished. From the
Arroyo regime to the current administration, the disappearance of Jonas remains
a continuing proof of the climate of impunity in our country. It will continue
to be a stark reminder on the prevalent injustice and lack of accountability of
State security forces responsible for rights abuses, and government
negligence,” said Karapatan deputy secretary general Jigs Clamor during a
protest held outside the Department of National Defense (DND) on April 28,
2017 to mark the 10th anniversary of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

“Continuing assaults on
people’s rights indicate the urgency for just and lasting peace in the
Philippines. There is a need to make the Benigno Aquino III regime accountable
for the crimes it has committed against the people, while pursuing the call for
the Duterte government to stop dismissing and start addressing issues on rights
violations and the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines,” said
Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Jigs Clamor, in a press briefing of human
rights defenders set to participate in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of
the Philippines at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva,
Switzerland on May 8, 2017.

“After thirty two (32)
years, political prisoner Jose Ceriales was finally released on April 19, 2017,
after serving sentence for false charges of multiple murder and double
frustrated murder. Peasant Ceriales was arrested on May 3, 1985 in Manjuyod,
Negros Oriental when he was only 22 years old. Now, he is 54 years old. That is
32 years of injustice which spanned different regimes,” said Clamor on the
release of the longest-detained political prisoner in the country.

(Photo: Jose Ceriales finally freed after 32 years in prison. He was only 22 years old when he was arrested; he is now 54 years old)

“The arduous struggle for land distribution of Hacienda
Luisita is just and legitimate, as landlords Cojuangcos and Aquinos continue to
deny the return of land to its tillers, a condition which constituted the
original agreement between the Cojuangcos and the Magsaysay government way back
in 1967,” said Jigs Clamor, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General, on the “bungkalan”
and land occupation of peasant farmers and farmworkers dubbed as #OccupyLuisita
campaign.

Washington, DC, US - "While General Jovito Palparan was charged and is now prosecuted for the disappearance of two women activists, he is yet to be prosecuted for the killings of more than 200 activists during the Arroyo regime. We call on Pres. Duterte and the Department of Justice (DoJ) to hold Palparan accountable for these crimes and junk US-directed counter-insurgency programs in the Philippines through which these crimes are perpetrated," said Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of Karapatan, in a forum at the Washington Peace Center in the US.

“Although the recent military operation in Bohol was supposedly
in pursuit of ten (10) elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the disposition
and safety of civilians should be given priority. Because of the incident, at
least 700 residents were forced to evacuate to the Dagohoy High School, two (2)
kilometers from their community. Some residents reported that they were not
informed to evacuate prior to the bombing, while two civilians killed by
soldiers were presented as ASG supporters, without any proof,” said Karapatan
Deputy Secretary General Jigs Clamor on the recent reported Bohol clash
involving government troops and the so-called ASG members.

(Residents of Brgy. Napo Inabanga, Bohol, crossing a river to get to the evacuation center. Some 700 residents evacuated to the Dagohoy High School, 2 kilometers away from their community)

In a letter of
allegation submitted to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial/Summary or
Arbitrary Executions Ms. Agnes Callamard yesterday, April 10, 2017, Karapatan
submitted documentation on forty-seven (47) victims of extrajudicial killings
in the Philippines under the Duterte administration, in line with the
continuing counter-insurgency program of the government.

As they expressed their support for the continuation of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, more than 200 Canadian trade unions, churches, ecumenical organizations, solidarity and human rights organizations, academics, journalists and individuals in Canada also called for the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines.